Labor – Fire hydrants

Where a Department of Labor Relations hearing officer dismissed a complaint alleging that the town of West Springfield failed to bargain in good faith with a firefighter’s union by requiring bargaining unit members to inspect and maintain the town’s fire hydrants without giving the union notice and an opportunity to bargain to resolution or impasse, the hearing officer’s conclusion was correct because the union had waived by contract its right to bargain over the town’s decision to impose fire hydrant inspection and maintenance duties.